“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
Every Disciple of Christ clings to this promise in time of trial. The assurance saves us from being overwhelmed by grief or giving up when serious problems seem to drag on Thankfully, m most cases, even though it may take time, we can see the fulfillment of the promise as our trials benefit either ourselves or others On occasion, however, no good at all is evident Some trials Just don’t make sense.
The biblical pattern is similar.
Joseph’s trial makes sense
For 13 years Joseph suffered as a slave and prisoner Sold to Ishmaelite traders by his brothers when he was 17 (Gen 37 2), circumstances steadily improved until he was framed by Potiphar’s wife and languished m prison for several years (Gen 41 6) At age 30, through the hand of God, he went from prison to ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Nine years later Joseph could say to his brothers there was a purpose m all that had happened “God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Gen 45 7) The entire sequence of events took 22 years, but eventually Joseph knew that all things had worked together for good to the called of God.
Another benefit had also been worked out during the 13 years of bondage Joseph’s reliance on God had deepened and his hope in the promises had matured to the point where he could endure the trial of prosperity When he died at age 110 (Gen 50 26), he had experienced the honor and riches of Egypt for 80 years Yet at the end, his focus was on the land of promise as he was fully assured God would bring the people to the land (Gen 50 24-25) Joseph died in faith, “not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and was persuaded of them, and embraced them” (Heb 11:13).
He survived the trial of riches and honor in abundance which caused others to fall into sin (e g Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat and Uzziah) Joseph remained faithful because God had worked in his life, working good in the development of his character.
So the trial of Joseph makes sense.
Naboth’s trial — no apparent good
There was no reign in the history of Israel worse than that of Ahab and Jezebel, Baal worship was established as the official religion of the land, the prophets of Yahweh were persecuted with many slain, only 7,000 remained who had not bowed the knee to Baal One of these was Naboth who owned a vineyard close by the summer palace of Ahab
Naboth’s standards were remarkable When Ahab coveted his vineyard for a vegetable garden, Naboth refused “The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee” (I Kgs 21 3) The king had not tried to seize the property, he had offered a better vineyard or its value in cash Naboth’s hands were tied, however, by the law which read “The land shall not be sold for ever for the land is mine, for ye are strangers and sojourners with me” (Lev 25:23).
Naboth could have reasoned he was just leasing the land and Ahab had the responsibility to give it back in the year of Jubilee If he didn’t, that was Ahab’s fault, not Naboth’s In days of such idolatry, surely no one else was keeping this law, no one would think ill of Naboth if he sold Furthermore, it would be good to get his family away from this town, which would be so dominated by the royal household and their abominations.
None of these excuses appealed to Naboth Whatever sins others committed didn’t justify his ignoring the law, to suppose Ahab would give back the land was an impossible dream and Naboth didn’t think sin was the way to avoid difficulty, for his family or himself.
He remained steadfast to the command and to principle But he was not delivered False witnesses were hired, the judges, Naboth’s neighbors, were instructed and the corrupt trial reached its end “Then they earned him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones that he died” (I Kgs 21 13) Later we learn the wicked shed “the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons” (II Kgs 9 26) It is apparent Ahab was certain the sons were of the same mind as the father and just as stubborn (faithful).
What good was accomplished? No revolt occurred to overthrow Ahab and his line for 17 years Naboth’s widow was left destitute with no husband, no sons and no property Any deepening of Naboth’s character and that of his sons was lost with their deaths.
In contrast to the case of Joseph, this trial of one who deeply loved God (and is alluded to in Heb 11:37) seems to defy the promise that all things work for the good of the beloved of God
Other examples
There are several faithful people whose final trials ended m premature deaths Jonathan, son of Saul, was slain with his father even though he was determined to support David (I Sam 31 2) John the Baptist was beheaded, Stephen stoned and James executed when they were at the height of their powers as preachers of the gospel (Matt 14 10, Acts 7 60,8 1,4) In three of the cases, the deaths make sense, in the fourth it does not.
Both Jonathan and John the Baptist had done their work for God’s anointed If they had continued on the scene, they may have been an unwilling rallying point for opposition to David or Jesus They were spared the trial and the way was made clearer for the great one who followed.
In Stephen’s case, his death triggered a sequence of events leading to the necessary spread of the gospel to Judea, Samaria and beyond as, “They that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8 4).
With James, however, no benefit seems to flow from his death True he may have learned obedience by what he suffered, but he died before he could use the understanding.
The Lord provides an answer
During his final hours, the Lord’s character must surely have deepened His endurance of faith would have developed during the dreadful hours, his response to the thief and care for his mother was an extension of the compassion he demonstrated so often m the ministry and his forgiveness reached a wondrous height as he looked on his murderers and pleaded, “Father, forgive them ” As we are told, “Yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered, and being made perfect “(Heb 5:8-9).
We know that in the Lord’s case what he learned did not die with him Being raised from the dead and exalted to the Father’s right hand, he is a high priest who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities for he “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4 15) Now, as the glorified Lord, he remembers He remembers what awful pain, dreadful dension and false accusation is like and is better able to help us in our trials.
What the Lord experienced as a mortal, right up to the point of his death, is used by him to guide mortals into godliness Isn’t this what the faithful will be doing in the kingdom? As kings and priests, we will be drawing on our experiences and sufferings even to the point of death to help those with whom we are working.
The trials that don’t make sense now may make a great deal of sense then The lingering hours or days or weeks which preceded death may have developed a depth of character we never used until the kingdom When we do use it m that day, then we will surely look back and realize the certainty of the promise “All things work together for good for them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One